Magazine-firearm.



PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

W. M. VANDEGRIPT. MAGAZINE FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT 9, 1903.

5 SHEETSSHEET 1.,

N0 MODEL.

IIIHIIIH No. 769,515. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904 W. M. VANEEGEIEE' MAGAZINE FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[/VVENTOIF Alfomey w. M. VANDEGRIPT. MAGAZINE FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1903.

NO MODEL.

5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

. MM Alfomey PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

No. 769,515. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 19044 W. M. VANDEGRIFT. MAGAZINE FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. W. M. VANDEGRIFT. MAGAZINE FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 9, 190a.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

NO MODEL.

I INVENTOR fl z/lwMWa/l? go Q v Affomey Patented September 6, 1904 ILLIAM M. VANDEGRIFT, OF MINERALRIDGE, OHIO.

MAGAZINE-FlREARIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

769,515, dated September 6, 1904.

Application filed October 9, 1903. Serial No. 176,370. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. VANDE- GRIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mineralridge, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVlagazine-Fi'rearms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to magazine-firearms of the type known as repeating rifles, and has in view certain novel and practical improvements in the action and magazine of a firearm of this character whereby great accuracy and rapidity of fire will be accomplished. v

To this end the invention primarily, contemplates a firearm-action embodying means whereby a number of shots may be fired in rapid succession simply by a repeated manipulation of the trigger, in which action the trigger serves to both open and close a sliding breech-bolt, releases the hammer in the firing I of the cartridge, as well as recocks the hammer during the opening of the breech-bolt.

A further object is to provide means for manually recocking the firearm when the cartridge snaps or fails to discharge without affecting the locked position of the breech-bolt ready for firing. This is one of the special objects of the invention, inasmuch as it satisfies the official requirements usually demanded of a magazine or repeating rifie.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of magazine for holding a supply of cartridges which are successively and automatically introduced into the cartridge-chamber in front of the breechbolt and which magazine may be readily refilled by simply drawing down the triggerguard.

In connection with the magazine the invention also provides means for excluding the magazine from action while the same holds a reserve of cartridges, and at the same time permitting of occasional firing by the manual insertion of one cartridge at a time.

The general object of the invention is to provide a repeating-action for firearms enibodying a minimum number of parts, and to so mount and house these parts that the same may be readily removed and replaced without tools of any character.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in carrying out the idea above specified are necessarily susceptible to structural modification without departing from the scope of the invention; but a preferred embodiment of the firearm is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a magazine repeating firearm embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the receiver and action part of the firearm, with the side cover-plate for the receiver removed to expose the action, the view illustrating the magazine thrown downward to the po sition to which it is drawn for filling purposes and also showing the parts of the action with the breech-bolt open, the hammer cooked and locked, with the trigger in its normal position for starting the breech-bolt forward to position the cartridge and close the cartridgechamber. Fig. 3 is asimilar view, only with the magazine closed and illustrating the action with the breech-bolt closed and the parts ready to lock the breech-bolt and release the hammer. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation illustrating the hammer snapped and the trigger thrown forward to the initial position, with its back-throw pawl engaged with the heel of the bolt-shifting lever ready to unlock the bolt and thrust the same rearward.v Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the action with the parts in midway position during the back movement of the breech-bolt and showing the recocking of the hammer. Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the scar and hammer-action which comes into play for disengaging the back-throw pawl from the boltshifting lever to permit a manual recocking of the hammer when the cartridge snaps or fails to explode.

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of the self-adjusting follower device to feed cartridges from the magazine into the cartridge-chamber. Fig. Sis a detail in perspective of the cut-otf plate operating at one side of the cartridge-chamber to cut ofi" the magazine from service. Fig. 9 is a detail cross-sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2, illustrating the position of the cut-E plate when drawn back beneath the cartridge-chamber. Fig. is a detail in perspective of the pivotal hammer. Fig. 11 is a similar view of the toggle-shifting device, one of the members of which is the bolt-shifting lever. Fig. 12 is a detail in perspective of the springset sear. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the oscillatory operating-trigger and the parts carried thereby. Fig. 1 1 is a perspective view of the breech-bolt, showing the firing-pin carried thereby. Fig. is a detail in perspective of the locking-catch for the guard-lever. Figs. 16 and 17 are inner and outer elevations, respectively, of the side cover-plate for the receiver.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The firearm-action and the magazine are housed Within and carried by the part usually termed the receiver, and designated in the drawings by the numeral 1. This receiver consists of an approximately rectangular casing of sufiicient extent to accommodate therein the various working parts of both the action and the magazine, and the same is suitably united to the barrel 2 and the gun or rifle stock 3*. All of the operating elements of the firearm-action, as well as of the magazine, have pivot-pin mountings within the receiver or case 1 and may be readily removed or replaced by simply detaching or disconnecting from the pivots, and to facilitatethis the receiver is provided at one side with an enlarged longitudinal side opening 2, which is designed to be suitably covered by the detachable side cover-plate 3, conforming in outline to and registering flush with the side opening 2, as plainly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This side cover-plate maybe held in position in any convenient manner such as illustrated-namely, by providing the same at one end with holding studs or projections 4, adapted to engage at the inner side of one wall of the receiver and fastened in place through the medium of a fastening screw or pin 5, passing through the plate and engaging in an opening or socket provided at a convenient point of the receiver.

The barrel 2" is provided at its extreme inne-r end with the usual cartridge-seat 6, ad- 5 joining and in line with which the receiver is provided with the longitudinally-disposed cartridge-chamber 7 having an outside opening 8 at one side of the receiver to provide for the ejection of the exploded shell or for the insertion of cartridges one at a time when the magazine is cut off from action. The cartridge-chamber 7 is also adapted to receive from beneath the cartridges carried by the magazine M, movable into and out of the receiver, as will hereinafter be more fully described. Also the said cartridge-chamber 7 constitutes part of and is in line with the longitudinally disposed slideway 9, provided within the top portion of the receiver and accommodating for movement therein the reciprocatory or sliding breech-bolt 10, having a movement of sufficient amplitude to entirely open and close the cartridge-chamber, according as the cartridge is to be positioned or extracted.

The sliding breecl1bolt 1O essentially is in the form of a hollow rectangular block or bar having a longitudinally-arranged guideway 11 in the form of a groove, slot, or opening to accommodate the longitudinally-movable firing-pin 12. This firing-pin extends the full length of the breech-bolt and is provided at its rear end with an enlarged or widened strike-head 12", and carries at its front extremity the exploding-point 13 for engaging with the cartridge-cap. The sliding breechbolt 10 is further provided at its front end, operating across the cartridge-chamber 7, with a flange or equivalent holder 14 for engagement with the cartridge-head to facilitate positioning the same in the seat 6 and extracting the exploded shell, whereby the same may be discharged laterally through the outer side opening 8 through any of the usual expedients employed for this purpose. At an intermediate point between its front and rear ends the said bolt is provided with a pendent obliquely-disposed brace-arm 15, the function of which will presently appear, and the rear exposed end of the breech-bolt has a movement entirely outside of the receiver across the plane of the hammer 16, having the usual cocking-finger 17 and pivotally mounted upon the pivot 18 within the rear end portion of the receiver or case 1. The inner pivoted porof the hammer 16 is of a bell-crank form and is provided within the angle thereof with an abutment-shoulder 19, engaged by the free end of the hammer-spring 20, located within the stock portion of the receiver and secured fast at one end, as at 21, in such position that the normal tension thereof is in a direction for snapping the hammer toward and against the strike-head 12 of the firing-pin. At one side of its pivotal support 18 the pivoted hammer 16 is provided with a catch-arm 22, having an engaging-point 23 adapted to move over the lock-arm 2 1 of the sear 25 and engage with the holding-notch 26, provided in the upper side of said arm.

The sear 25 consists of a rocking plate pivotally mounted at a point between its extremities upon a pivot or pivot-pin 27 and provided at the side of the pivot opposite the lock-arm with a trip-arm 28, normally pressed clownwardly through the medium of the sear-adjusting spring 29, and provided at one side with the laterally-projecting shoulder 30, adapted to be engaged by the projecting release-stud 31 of the'trigger 32, to be presently referred to. In addition to the elements described, the sear or plate is provided below its pivot with a pendent member 33, disposed 'at one side of the body of the trigger32 and carrying a lateral offset trip-tappet 34, designed under one of the conditions hereinafter specified to operate against the pivotal spring-adjusted back-throw pawl 35, carried by the trigger adjacent to the release-stud 31.

The trigger-body 32 is pivotally mounted upon the pivot-pin 36, fitted to the receiver or case 1, and the portion below the pivotal portion projects through the open bottom portion of the receiver and is formed into a loop or ring finger-grip 37, which insures positive action in rapid firing by moving the trigger both ways with the hand, thus avoiding any possible failure of the trigger being thrown forward to its normal position by the retracting trigger-spring 38. This trigger-spring is secured fast at its upper end, as at 39, to the inner side of one wall of the receiver, and the lower free end of the spring yieldingly presses against the bearing stud or projection 40, offset from one side of the trigger-body.

The back-throw pawl 35 is carried by the trigger-body 32 at one side of its pivot 36. This pawl is pivoted at its lower end upon the pivot 41, and at its free end it ispreferably formed with a shouldered engaging-point 42, normally pressed in a direction away from the trigger-body through the medium of a pawl-adjusting spring 43, one end of which is attached to the trigger-body and the other end of which presses in an outward direction on one side of the pawl. The said shouldered engaging-point 42 is adapted to engage and cooperate withthe bearing-shoulder or abutment 44, formed at one side of the heel of a swinging bolt-shifting lever 45, which, together with a toggle-link 46, constitutes a toggle breechbolt-shifting device, which also acts in the capacity of a lock for the latter when thrust forward to carry the cartridge to the firing position. The trigger body has eX- tended upward therefrom, above its pivotal pin 36, a rigid setting-arm 47, which is designed to operate and press against a bearing stud or element 48, projected from one side of the bolt-shifting lever 45 at or contiguous to the free-swinging end thereof. The said bolt-shifting lever 45 is pivotally mounted at its heel or lower end upon the pivot 49, and is arranged to extend across the sear 25 at one side of the latter, the upper end of the lever 45 having a pivotal connection to one end of the toggle-link 46. The other end of the toggle-link is provided with a longitudinallydisposed slot 51, engaging with the connect- 1ng-pin52, fitted to the rear end portion of the breech-bolt 10, thus providing a slotted connection between the link and the breechbolt and permitting a-movement of said link whereby the lever 45 is permitted to be disengaged from its locked position with the brace arm or projection 15 before the breechbolt is started backward and also allowing the said lever to be'forced into engagement with said arm 15 after the bolt has been carried home to firing position. In connection with this locking engagement of the bolt-shifting lever with the brace arm or projection 15 it is to be noted that said lever is formed at its free-swinging end with a shouldered chockhead 53, adapted to slidably interlock with the lower end of the oblique brace-arm of the sliding breech-bolt.

The magazine M, operating in the open part of the receiver immediately beneath the cartridge-chamber 7, is in advance of the breech: bolt and firing mechanism and is carried by the downwardly breaking or swinging guardlever 54, having the usual loop portion 55, which constitutes the guard proper for the trigger 32. The lever 54 is provided with a bifurcated front end 56, mounted upon the pivot 57, fitted in the hanger-plate 58, suitably secured to the front end portion of the receiver-body, as plainly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The loop portion 55 of the guard-lever is provided in the upper side thereof with a longitudinally-disposed slot 59 to accommodate the trigger movement, and at the rear end of said slot 59 the upper side of the guard -lever is provided with a keeper member or lip 60, adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 61 of a pendent beveled lockingcatch 62, pivotally supported at its upper end, as at 63, within the lower part of the receiver or case and normally held in an active position through the medium of the holding-spring 64, the free end of which engages with the shouldered part of the catch below its pivot and the opposite end of which is secured fast, as at 65, to the stock. When the guard-lever is swung upward to the closed position, the

keeper automatically engages with the catch 62. To release the guard-lever 54-and drop the magazine therewith, it is simply necessary to move the point of the finger or thumb against the nose of the catch 62, disengaging it from the keeper member 60, as may be plainly seen from Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings.

The magazine M, carried by the downwardly-swinging guard-lever 54, essentially consists of a cartridge-holding compartment 66, rigid with the upper side of the lever and comprising a back section or plate 67 and a pair of curved side walls or strips 68, secured to one side of the back section or plate 67. This construction provides what may be termed an open-front magazine-compartment 66 for holding a supply of cartridges 1 in proper position for delivery to the cartridgechamber 7, and the up-and-down movement of the magazine in and out of the receiver may be guided through the medium of one or more curved guiding-plates 69, arranged at one side of the plane of one of the side walls or strips 68. The cartridges are pressed upwardly toward the cartridge chamber through the medium of an automatic follower device including a follower-block 7 O, movable within the cartridge compartment 66 and pivotally mounted, as at 71, upon the rear end of a vertically-swinging self-adjusting carrier-lever 7 2. At its other end the carrier-lever is provided with a rocking heel 73, working within the bifurcated front end 56 of the guard-lever and pivoted therein upon the pivot-pin 74, located in the rear of" the plane of the pivot 57 for the guard-lever. At one side of the plane of its pivot 74 the rocking heel 73 of the carrier-heel is provided with an angular bearing-notch 75, which is adapted to engage with the nose of a stationary fulcrum-point 76, projecting in an upward direction from the hanger-plate 58 in a plane between the pivots 57 and 74. A follower-adjusting spring 77 is secured at one end to a fixed part of the magazine or guard lever and the other end has an operative engagement or connection 78 with the heel 73 of the lever 72. This arrangement is such as to provide means for swinging the follower from its lowermost position at the bottom of the magazine-compartment to the top of such compartment to provide for feeding the individual cartridges successively into the cartridge-chamber 7.

While the spring connection for the follower provides for the individual action thereof when the guard-lever is closed and locked, it is obvious that by reason of the carrierlever 72 being carried by the guard-lever when such lever is broken downward, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the angular bearingnotch 75 is carried against and around to the nose of the fulcrum-point 76, with the result of automatically retracting the follower to the bottom of the magazine-compartment, so that by the time the magazine is completely uncovered the follower-block will be in its extreme retracted position, thereby permitting a handful of cartridges to be quickly thrown into the compartment 66. After this the guard-lever is closed, but the follower 70 remains at the bottom of the magazine-compartment ready to feed upward under the influence of the spring 77, as the cartridges are used. Another feature of the invention resides in the employment of a cut-off slide or plate 79 for controlling communication between the cartridge-chamber 7 and the magazine. This cut-ofl slide or plate has a sliding movement longitudinally of the firearm and is held to work in a slotted guideway 80, provided longitudinally of the receiver in parallelism to the cartridge-chamber 7. The slide or plate 79 projects inwardly a sufficient distance to partly cover the lower side'of the cartridge chamber 7 when the slide or plate is drawn back to an active position, and to securely retain the same in anoperative position the body of the slide or plate may be provided with a longitudinally-disposed slot 81, receiving a vertically-disposed retaining-pin 82, fitted in the front wall of the receiver.

The cut-ofi slide or plate 79 is provided at its outer side with anoperating-button 83 and also with an outside guiding-flange having in the edge thereof spaced keeper-notches 84 and 85, respectively, adapted to be engaged by the locking projection 86, provided at the free end of a catch-spring 87, secured fast at one end, as at 88, on the outer side of the receiver or case.

With the cut-off slide or plate 79 thrust forward and held in such position by the engagement ofthe catch-spring with the notch 84 the said slide or plate is entirely out of the way of the free delivery of the cartridge from the magazine into the cartridge-chamber 7; but when the slide is drawn back and locked in such retracted position by the engagement of the catch-spring with the notch 85 it closes communication between the magazine and the cartridge chamber, excludes the magazine from action, and holds the cartridges therein in reserve, while at the same time occasional firing may be accomplished by inserting one cartridge at a time from the outer side of the cartridge-chamber 7.

Referring more particularly to the action of the mechanism, it will be assumed that the magazine is filled and the guard-lever closed and locked in the manner described. The parts then occupy the position shown in Fig. 4, with the back-throw pawl 35 engaged with the bearing shoulder or abutment 44 of the bolt-shifting lever 45. By then pulling on the trigger the pressure of the pawl 35 against the shoulder or abutment 44 will cause the lever 45 to swing upward out of engagement with the brace-arm 15, which first movement is permitted by the pin-and-slot connection 51 and 52. A continued pulling on the trigger causes the parts to move through the positions shown in Fig. 5, wherein the pawl 35 continues to swing the lever 44 upwardly and rearwardly, thereby sliding the breechbolt backward over the top of the hammer, causing the latter to be cocked and locked in its cocked position by the catch-arm 22 thereof becoming engaged with the notched lock-arm 24 of the sear. This action opens up the cartridge-chamber 7, so that a cartridge from the magazine may be delivered into such chamber in front of the breech-bolt, and by the time the latter has reached the limit of its back movement the point 42 of the pawl 35 will slip out of engagement with the abutment 44, and the setting-arm 47 of the trigger will come to a position at one side of the bearing stud or element 48 of the bolt-shifting lever 45, which position of parts is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

A continued pulling. on the trigger moves the setting-arm 47 against the stud or element 48, thereby carrying the lever 45 and link 46 forward to force both the breech-bolt and the cartridge to firing position. Vvhen the breech-bolt reaches home with the cartridge shoved into the seat 6, there is still suificient movement left of the parts, as shown in Fig. 3, for the chock-head 53 to come into locking relation with the bracearm 15 of the'breech-bolt, and during the movement of parts provided for this final locking of the breech-bolt the trigger-body rocks to a position which carries the releasestud 31 thereof against the shoulder of the sear, with the result of rocking said sear in a direction to disengage its arm 2a from the hammer, so that the latter is freed to be actuated by the spring 20 and moved against the head of the firing-pin. A continued backand-forward movement of the trigger provides for a repetition of these actionsnamely, the opening of the breech-bolt, the cocking of the hammer, the closing and locking of the breech-bolt, and the releasing of the hammer.

Another feature provided for by the present invention is that of permitting a manual recocking of the firearm when a cartridge snaps or fails to discharge. In such event the cocking-finger 17 is engaged by the thumb and the hammer drawn backward, with the result of carrying the catch-arm 22 thereof over and against the lock-arm 24C of the sear. This movement depresses the lock-arm 24: and rocks the pendent member 33 of the sear in a direction for carrying the trip-tappet 34 thereof against the point 4E2 of the pawl 35, thus releasing it from the engagement with the shoulder 44:, (shown in Figs. 4 and 6,) so that upon the next backward movement of the trigger the breech-bolt is left undisturbed in its closed and locked position and the pawl 35 rides idly under the bolt-shifting lever L5 until the release-stud 31 again trips the sear for releasing the hammer.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the above-described improvements will be apparent without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without depart: ing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a firearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, a toggle-shifting connection for the bolt comprising means for looking the latter in its closed position, and a trigger comprising means for actuating the shifting connection in both directions, and also for releasing the hammer.

2. In a firearm, the receiver having a cartridge-chamber, a sliding breech-bolt having a guideway longitudinally thereof, a longitudinally-moving firing-pin mounted in said guideway of the bolt and provided at its rear end with an exposed widened strike-head, and at its forward end with an exploding-point, a hammer cooperating with said strike-head, and arranged to be cooked by the bolt on its backward movement, a sear for holding the hammer cocked, and a trigger comprising means for throwing the bolt in both directions, and also for releasing the hammer.

3. In a firearm, the receiver having a cartridge-chamber, a sliding breech-bolt working through the cartridge-chamber and carrying the firing-pin, a toggle-shifting connection for the bolt comprising means for locking the latter in its closed position, a hammer, a sear for holding the hammer cooked, and a trigger comprising means for operating said shifting con nection in both directions, and also for releasing the hammer from its sear.

4.. In afirearm, the combination with the-receiver having acartridge-ch amber, of asliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, a springactuated hammer arranged in the path of the bolt, a sear for holding the hammer in its cocked position, a shifting connection for the bolt, and a trigger comprising means for operating the shifting connection in both directions, and also for disengaging the sear.

5. In a firearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, a hammer, a sear for holding the hammer cocked, a toggle-shifting connection for the bolt comprising a swinging lever having a pivotal support at one end and a toggle-link-having a pivotal connection with said lever and with the bolt, and a-trigger having elements separately engaging the said lever for respectively throwing the same in different directions, said trigger also comprising means for releasing the hammer.

6. In a firearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, an automatically-cocked hammer, a sear for holding the hammer cocked,

a shift connection for the bolt comprising a swinging lever pivotally supported at one end, and a toggle-link pivotally connected with the lever and also with the breech-bolt, and a trigger comprising means for releasing the hammer, and having separate back and front throw members respectively engaging the said lever adjacent to its pivoted and unpivoted ends for moving the same in opposite directions by a back pull upon the trigger.

7 In a firearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing pin, an automatically-cocked hammer, a sear for holding the hammer cocked, a swinging bolt-shifting lever having a pivotal support at one end and having a locked engagement at its other end with the breech-bolt connection between the said lever and the bolt, and a trigger comprising means for releasing the hammer, and also provided with separate back and front throw elements, respectively cooperating with the heel and swinging'end portions of the lever, for throwing the same in opposite directions by a backward movement of the trigger.

8. In afirearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, an automatically-cocked hammer,a sear for holding the hammer cocked, a'toggle-shifting connection for the breechbolt including a swinging lever having a pivotal support at one end, and provided adjacent to such end with a bearing-shoulder, and at its swinging end with a bearing-stud, and a trigger comprising means for releasing the hammer, and provided with separate elements cooperating at different times respectively with said bearing-shoulder and bearing-stud.

9. In a firearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, an automatically-cocked hammer, a sear for holding the hammer cocked, a toggle connection for the bolt, including a swinginglever pivotally supported at one end, said lever being provided adjacent to its pivotal support with a bearing-shoulder, and at its swinging end with a bearingstud, and a trigger comprising means for releasing the hammer, and also provided with a pawl cooperating with said bearing-shoulder and with a setting-arm cooperating with said bearingstud.

10. In a firearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, an automatically-cocked hammer, a toggle-shifting connection for the bolt, including a pivotally-supported swinging lever having a bearing-shoulder adjacent to its pivoted end and a bearing projection upon its swinging portion, and a trigger carrying a spring-adjusted back-throw pawl for engagement with said bearing-shoulder, and a rigid setting-arm for engagement with said bearing projection.

11. In a firearm, asliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, a toggle-shifting connection for the bolt including a pivotallysupported swinging lever having, adjacent to its pivotal 'point, a bearingshoulder, and an outer projection upon its swinging portion, a rocking trigger carrying at one side of its pivot a spring-pressed back-throw pawl having a beveled engaging point adapted to have a slip-off engagement with the bearing-shoulder of the lever, said trigger also having a rigid settingarm operating against the bearing projection of the swinging lever.

12. In afirearm, asliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, an automatically cooked and released hammer, a toggle-shifting connection for the bolt including a pivotally-supported swinging lever hai ingabearing-shoulder adjacent to its pivot, and a bearing projection upon its swinging portion, and a pivotallysupported rocking trigger provided with an exposed finger-ring and carrying at one side of its pivota spring-pressed pawl with a beveled engaging point having a slip-off engagement with the bearing-shoulder of said lever, the said trigger being further provided above its pivot with a rigid setting-arm arranged to move against the bearing projection of the lever.

13. In a firearm, aslidingbreech-bolt carrying the firing-pin and provided with a pendent brace-arm, a hammer. means'for holding the hammer cocked, a swinging shifting-lever having an operative connection with the bolt and provided with a chock-head adapted to engage said brace-arm, and a trigger having elements separately engaging the shifting-lever for respectively throwing the same backward and forward, and also comprising means for releasing the hammer.

1 1. In afirearm, asliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin and provided with a pendent brace-arm, a swinging pivotally-su pported bolt-shifting lever having a chock-head for engagement with the said brace-arm, a link having a pivotal connection at one end with the swinging end of the shifting-lever and at its other end having a pin-and-slot connection with the breech-bolt, and a trigger comprising means for throwing said said shifting-lever in both directions, both movements being accomplished by a back pull upon the trigger.

15. In a firearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin,a rocking sear having a lockarm, a springactuated hammer arranged in the path of the breech-bolt for cooking purposes and provided with a catch-arm adapted to be engaged by the lock-arm of the sear, a shifting connection for the bolt, and a trigger having elements cooperating with the shifting connection for moving to same in both directions and also engaging with the sear for releasing it from the hammer.

16. In afirearm, asliding breech-bolt carrying the firing pin, a spring-actuated hammer arranged in the path of the boltfor cocking purposes and provided with a pointed catch-arm, a rocking pivotally-supported searplate provided with a notched lock-arm for engagement with the hammer-arm, and at the opposite side of its pivot provided with a projected shoulder, an adjusting-spring arranged to bear against the sear-plate to maintain the same engaged with the hammer, a shifting connection for the bolt, and an oscillating operating-trigger having elements for throwing the shifting connection in both directions and also provided with a release-stud engaging with the shoulder of the searplate.

17. In a firearm, asliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, a shifting connection for the bolt including a lever having a bearingshoulder, a pivotal trigger having a rigid element for throwing the lever in one direction and provided with a spring-pressed pawl for engaging said bearing-shoulder to throw the a sear having locking means for the hammer and also comprising means for throwing the pawl to an idle position when the hammer is recocked by hand.

18. In afirearm, a sliding breech-bolt carrying the firing-pin, a shifting connection for the bolt including a lever having a bearingshoulder, a pivotal trigger having a rigid element for throwing the lever in one direction and provided with a spring-pressed pawl for engaging said bearing-shoulder to throw the lever in an opposite direction, a hammer, and a pivoted sear-plate comprisinglocking means for the hammer and provided with a pendent member having an oflset trip-tappet arranged to move against the pawl for throwing the same to an idle position when the hammer is recocked by hand to avoid disturbing the closed and locked position of the breech-bolt.

19. In a firearm, the combination with the receiver having a cartridge-chamber and the breech-bolt mechanism, of a downwardlyswinging guard-lever carrying the magazineboX and aself-adjusting follower device therefor.

20. In a firearm, the combination with the receiver having a cartridge-opening and the lever in the opposite direction, a hammer, and and pivotally supported at one end upon said hanger, a follower-block working in the magaZine-boX, a carrier-lever pivotally connected to one end of the follower-block and provided at its other end with a rocking heel pivoted upon the guard-lever at one side of the pivot of the latter and provided with a bearingnotch overlying and working upon said stationary fulcrum-point, and a follower-adjusting spring connected respectively with a rigid part of the guard-lever, and with said rocking heel at one side of the pivot of the latter.

21. In a firearm, the combination with the receiver having a cartridge-chamber and magazine in communication therewith, of a longitudinally-movable cut-01f plate slidably mounted upon the receiver and arranged to project inwardly therein,said plate being movable to a position for obstructing the passageway between the magazine and cartridgechamber, and also provided with keepernotches, and a spring-catch device arranged to engage said keeper-notches for holding the cut-ofi plate in either of its positions.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. VANDEGRIFT.

Witnesses:

W. M. OWsLEY, F. M. VANDEGRIFT. 

